Improvement in preserving vegetables



G. L. MERRELL & 0.1'. SOULE.

PRESERVING VEGETABL'ES, &C.

Patented March 13, 1877.

MFETER. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTUN. D. CA

d exact description el LEwisMeRRELLjAND oser-lit' F. s0ULE, Or sYaAcUsn,- New' YoRK.

"IM PRovEwi ENI1N.'PREseRvinGfvEcTAB-reses.

SpecificationV forming ,partof .Letters `Patent No. 188,739.5, dated March 1.3,71877 applicationtled l January 17,1877. 1 f

To all whom vit/may concern:V i I Be it known that we, G. Lewis MERRELL have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Preserving Vegetables and other Articles in- Sealed Gans, 'of which the' following, ytaken in connection with -the accompanying drawings, isha full, clear, and

This invention relates -to steam-chainbers used for heating vegetables and otherarticles `in sealed cans, and especially-adaptedior the l process described in our Patent No. 149,503.

The invention consists, principally, rst, in Ahinging the cover ofthe cylinder or body of the steam-chamber and fitting it-to its seat with an elastic packing, by which combination the opening and closing of thecover is facilitated and the apparatus rendered more coni venient generally; second, in a novel construction of the hinge, whe rebythe saine is rendered l.adjust-able to admit, ofv tightening thereat the cover on its seat; third, in the. combination and arrangement of an L-shaped band around the top ot' the cylinder, strengthening the same andforming a seat thereat for the cover, and a cover hinged to the cylinder,

and having a rubber or other elastic packingring attached to its under surface, forming a steam-tightjont with the said seat; fourth, in a novel construction and arrangement of devices for tightening the cover to its seat on the cylinder, whereby the opening and closing of the cover is facilitated, and the tighteningbolts are properly supported when 'subjected to strain, and connected with the apparatus, to render them convenient of access and prevent their becoming lost; fifth, in the combibination, with the cover, of adownward-projecting flange around the periphery thereof, for strengthening the same and bracing the tightening-bolts when under strain, all constructed, combined, and arranged substantially in the manner hereinafter fully described, for the purpose set forth. l

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is an exterior view of the steam-chamberwith the cover open; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section of the steam-chamber with the cover closed; Fig. 3, a top view of same; and Figs.

spondi-n g parts.

4 and5 are enlarged detail views of parts of the invention. Y

Similar letters of reference indicatel corre- A is the cylindrical -btdyjof u1@ steam- Ychamber, in which are placed the crates efe,

vcontainilng the vegetables, '&c., in sealed cans,

to be heated. jt is strengthened atvthe top by an L-shaped hoop or band, v, which, `with its outward flange,v forms `rthe seat forthe vcover.- C is the cover, which, on accountA of the necessity of its being fitted with a steamtight joint tothe cylinder, has heretofore been separate from the cylinder,to admit of lifting it bodily from its seat, which was formed `of circumferential tongues and grooves. This made the applicationand removal of the cover laborious and slow, andthe construction eX- pensive; Allthis is Yobviated. in this inven-l tion by hinging thecovjerv to the cylinder-:or

body of the chamber, andprovidingit with a rubber or other elastic packingring,r, on its under surface, forming a steaxn-tightjoint with a plain seat on the top edge of the cylinder, thus facilitating the opening and closing of the cover, and reducing the cost of fitting it to its seat. e

rlhe cover projects over the edge of the external Ilange on top of the cylinder, and is provided on its periphery with a downward ange, f, whereby it is strengthened, and

which is sufficientlyy distant from the flange.

011 the cylindervto allow the tightening-bolts,

hereafter described, to pass between them and brace the same when subjected to strain. b b are the tightening bolts, made L-shaped and connected with the cover by the `screwthreaded end passing through holes in the cover close to the inside of dangej-and provided with a nut, n, on top of the cover, thus rendering them convenient of access and pre' venting their being lost. In applying the cover to its seat the bolts b are turned so as to cause the right-angular hook or footl at its lower extremity to stand at a tangent, or outward from` the periphery of the external flange on the cylinder, and when closed the bolt is turned to bringthe hook l under the said flange, and then tightened by the nut a, the flange f on the cover bracing it at the rear to prevent its being crowded outward by the strain as aforesaid. The opening-of the cover t isaccomplished with equal facility, requiring only the loosening of the nut n. Then, by turning the bolt b to carry the hook 'l from under the flange on the cylinder, the cover is released and readily opened. i i In order to admit of more uniformly and perfectly tightening the cover on itsseat, the

eye o in the `ear of the `hinge h, is elongated, and the pintle or gudgeon is supported therein by set-screws s s' or other means, whereby the required downward pressure can be obtained. ber, made concave on theV inside, to form a receptacle for condensed steam under thev crates, and allow of a free `circulation of the steam thereat. For the purpose of better` supporting the crates,` thisbottom is prok y'ided 'with' a narrow level top portion, a, 'around its periphery. z 0 is a waterjgage', applied tothe steam-chamber to guard against accumulation of water.

A yis the steam-supply` pipe, provided with a valve for regulating the ofthe several parts of this invention, all p'afr'atsj are attached in their respective places, con-A venient of access and prevented from being lost.

Having thus described our invention, what y "we'claim'as new,'an'd desire to secure by Leti t Witnesses:A

` EBENDIXEN, i t" JosF. GUsrr. ALoIs DE LIMA. .y

`1. A cylindrical steam-chamber for heating vegetables and other articles in sealed can-s, i

u is the bottom oi? the steam-cham;y

having the cover hingedu toits cylinderor .body,rand fitted =to itsseat by elastic" packing,

substantially as herein described.

2. In combination with the tightening-bolts b b, the hinge h, having its pintle or gui'lgeon t supported in an elongated eyeA in thejearof the hinge by set-screws or their equivalents, substantially as and for the purpose specified. 3. The combination; and arrangement,rwith a cylindrical steam-chamber, of the L-shaped band u and hinged cover C, provided with elastic packing-ring n substantially z as and for the purpose specified and"showiif1 4. Thecombination and arrangementv of the cover c, projecting over the edge of the external flange on the top 'of the cylindenandjthe L-shaped bolts b b, passing withtheir screwthreaded end! through holesjn theprojecting portion of the cover, Vand* outside ot' tliewperiphery'of the flange aforesaid, substantially `'in the manner described, for thepurpose set ,forthi C i i A i 5. In combinationwith bolt-h,

"hook l at the lower end, engaging. aneiiternal ange on the cylinder A, the iiange j' `o nthe periphery of the coverp, substantially in the manner and for `the Mpurpose specified and shown.n i

In testimony whereof We havessignediour names and aXed our seals in; the `presence of twoVattestingwitnesses, at Syracuse, in

the county of Onondaga and` State ot` `N ew York, this 11th day of January, 187.7.

- e.LEw1s MERRELL. .1.. s.

` OSCAR F. SOULE. L. s. 

